Chap. 638.—An ACT to amend and re-enact section 101 of an act entitled an act
to incorporate the city of Newport News, in the county of Warwick, and to pro-
vide a charter therefor, approved January 16, 1896.

Approved March I, 1898.

1. Beit enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That section
one hundred and one of an act entitled an act to incorporate the city of
Newport News, in the county of Warwick, and to provide a charter
therefor, approved January sixteenth eighteen hundred and ninety-six,
be amended and re-enacted so as to read as follows :

§ 101. Thecouncil may, bya three-fourths vote of all its members, in
the name and for the use of the said city, cause to be issued certificates of
debt or bonds (the form of which shall be prescribed by the council), not
exceeding inthe aggregate the amount of one hundred thousand dollars,
and bearing a rate of interest not exceeding six per centum perannum, and
payable in the discretion of the council in not less than ten nor more
than thirty years from their date, for the purpose of paying any neces-
sary deficit in the administration of the government of the said city dur-
ing the first vear of its operation under this charter, and of making any
manner of public improvements: provided, that ninety thousand dollars
of such certificates of debt or bonds shall not be issued or be valid, un-
less and until the question of issuing the same shall have been first sub-
mitted to the legal voters of the said city for their approval, at an elec-
tion to be ordered and provided for by the council, and three-fifths of
said legal voters voting at said election, who shall then own any free-
hold estate in real estate in the said city; and two-thirds of said legal
voters voting at said cleetion, who shall then not own any freehold es-
tate in real estate in the said. city, shall have voted in favor of the issue
of suid certificates of debt or bonds. Said election shall be by viva voce
vote, and only those who are legal voters of the said city under the laws
of Virginia shall have the right to vote. The words ‘freehold estate,’’
as used in this section, shall ‘be construed to embrace only a full owner-
ship in fee simple at law or in equity or an estate for life. The council
shall cause to be prepared at least sixty days prior to any election here
under a list of the legal voters in said city owning such freehold estate
and shall cause the same to be published in one or more newspapers pub-
lished in said city for at least four weeks prior to any such election. The
council shall at least ten days before any such election convene in session,
and at such session revise and correct such list if there be errors therein.
Such ist when so revised and corrected shall be conclusive on any ques-
tion as to who constitute the legal vote in said city owninga frechold es-
tate and entitled to vote at such election.

Said election shall not be held until notice of the time, place, and ob-
ject thereof shall have been first given by publication for at least thirty
davs in the daily newspapers published j in the said city, or, if there be
no daily newspaper published in said city at the time said election is or-
dered the council may determine the manner of giving such notice.

And the said council shall not create or incur any other indebtedness
which has not been provided for in the annual levy of the said city, or
by some other act of the general assembly of Virginia.

2. This act shall be in force from its passage.